Book cover



F. J. OSUCH May 10, 1938.

BOOK COVER Filed NOV. l2, 1934 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS -lIl Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,116,798y l BooK COVER Francis John Osuch, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Robot Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 12, 1934,` Serial No. 752,632

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to book covers adapted to be applied to bound volumes or adapted for use as a loose leaf binder.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a sturdy and attractive cover for use with bound volumes, such as telephone directories for example, or for use as a binder for loose leaves, and quickly releasable means associated with the cover for securing a bound volume or the loose leaves within the cover so that they may be readily removed and replaced. In connection with the securing of bound volumes in the cover it is contemplated that they will be provided with index sheets having apertured tabs for cooperation with the securing means which comprises the present invention, the method of assembling and the construction of the index sheets being particularly shown and described in my prior Patent 1,900,462 issued March '7, 1933, to which attention is invited.

More specifically, it is the object of the invenj tion to provide a simple, easily operated,`rugged and durable means in combination with book covers for securing bound volumes or loose leaves 3 therein and reinforcing elements for the `covers and the securing means which also serve to prevent a too abrupt bending` of the secured sheets to eliminate the tendency of the apertured tabs to become damaged or torn. As, illustrated by way of modification .the reinforcing members may be formed as an integral part of the tab receiving parts which are arranged at top and bottom of the cover to unite the tab engaging parts whereby they move together upon application of pressure on either one to a position allowing loose sheets or a volume to be placed thereon or removed therefrom. In connection Awithtlle tab engaging parts it is another andimportantobject of the invention to provide eicient,`quickly and easily releasable locking means for positively holding said tab engaging parts in a position preventing removal of the said tabs therefrom.

With the above and other ends in view the invention is more fully disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of the device applied to book covers, the latter being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectio'n taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4`4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a companion View to Fig. 4; illustrating another position of the parts;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a modified device;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of still another modification, and

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. `8. e `Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designate corresponding parts.

The cover within which the bound volume or loose sheets are to be received comprises a central back piece I having sides or flaps 2 hingedly connected to the longitudinal edges thereof. To each of the ends of the backstrip I is secured an angle bracket 3, each bracket having a web lying flush against the surface of the back strip and extending inwardly of the cover ande'prefcrably slightly spaced inwardly from the adjacent end of the back strip.

At the sides of the web portions of the brackets d are provided projecting side elements 4 and I, the end portions of the side elements being curled over the adjacent ends of rods 6 and 9 respectively as illustrated at 5 and 8. The rods t and Si are thus supported in a plane spaced from the back strip I and parallel tothe longitudinal edges thereof. On each bracket 3 is provided a prong I0 having its end Il fulcrumed in a part of the bearing 5, the end I I being retained in the bearing 5 bya` bent portion I2 formed `integral with the perpendicular part 4 of the bracket 3. The prong i9 is adapted to be moved pivotally on its fulcrum 5-II so that its other end I3"may be caused to extend through a notch I4 in` thepart 'I of the bracket, `the prong i IEI` being provided with a notch I5 located adjacent `to theterminal end- I3; Secured on the bracket `3 by means of a pivot pin I6 is a latchelement -I'I having a retainer nger liformedlintegral therewith. At one side edge of the retainer finger` t8- a portion of the latch element is struck outwardly to provide an abutment I9.` On the other side edge of the finger I8 the latch element has a flange 2i) provided with a hole 21 and the part 'I of the bracket 3 is provided witha slot 22` disposed adjacent to the flange 2U., p l v The present `deviceis designed-.to be usedin conjunction with a bound volume having sheets inserted between the pagesthereof and provided with projecting apertured tabs 23 `through which the prongs I0 may extend in themanner pointed out in my prior patent referred to above, and it is also adaptedfor use with loose `sheets of paper having apertures through which` the prongs I0 may extend. By way of example a bound volume 24 has been illustrated and in order to secure the same in the cover the latch element I'I is moved manually to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3. In order to cause such movement a pointed instrument may be inserted through thel slot 22 and into engagement with the flange 20 and manual pressure applied thereto. With the latch element I'I thus moved the prong I0 may be moved around its fulcrum as illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 2, and the apertured tabs 23 may be slipped over the end thereof. The prong I0 is then moved by manual pressure so that its end I3 extends through the notch I4 and with the latch element positioned as described the abutment I9 will have a portion thereof disposed beneath the notch I4 and will provide a positive stop for limiting the movement of the prong IIJ. The latch element I1 is then moved pivotally in a reverse direction and the nger I8 enters the notch I5 to retain the end I3 in the notch I4, the abutment or stop I9 serving during this operation to align the notch I5 and nger I8 so that no diiiiculty is experienced in moving the finger into the notch I5.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 7 the brackets 3a have bearings 5.a rotatably supporting a rod 6a having prongs Ilia formed integral with the ends thereof, the free ends of the prongs Illa being received in notches I 4a and retained therein by fingers I8a, on a latch element I'Ia. Ihe operation is the same in connection with this form as that of the first described form with the exception that the two prongs Illa are tied together to move in unison whereas the above described prongs I0 must be moved individually.

In the modied form illustrated in Figs. 8 and .9 a prong IUb has notches |51)l formed at each end thereof. In this construction a latch element I1b is pivoted on the bracket 3b adjacent to each end of the prong IUb, each latch element having a finger I8b adapted to be received in the adjacent notch I5b to retain the ends of the prongs Illb in the notches Mb. This latter form functions the same as the first described form with the exception that both ends of the prongs Illb` may be removed from their supporting brackets whereas in the other form the prongs I0 have one end permanently retained on their supporting brackets.

Although specic embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described it will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:-

1. The combination with a book cover, of a bowed rod having retaining means on an end thereof, means for supporting and securing said rod on said cover, said means including a latch element, means pivotally supporting said latch element for movement laterally with respect to the end of said bowed rod, and means on said latch element adapted to slide into or out of locking engagement with said retaining means upon pivotal movement of said latch element.`

2. The combination with a book cover, of bowed rods having retaining means on ends thereof, means for supporting and securing said rods on said cover, said means including individually pivoted latch elements mounted with one adjacent to each rod, and means on said latch elements adapted to slide laterally into and out of engagement with siad retflling means on adjacent rods upon pivotal movement of said latch elements.

3. The combination with a book cover, of bowed rods having retaining means on ends thereof, means for supporting and securing said rods on said cover, said means including individually pivoted latch elements mounted with one adjacent to each rod, means on said latch elements adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said retaining means on adjacent rods by pivotal movement of said latch elements, and means on said latch elements for aligning the retaining means on said rods with said rst named means on said latch elements.

4. In a device of the character described, a supporting bracket, a bowed rod, means on said bracket for supporting said bowed rod with at least one end free to move relative tothe bracket, retainer receiving means on said end of said rod, a latch element pivotally mounted on said bracket and having a retainer adapted to be moved into or out of said retainer receiving means by pivotal movement of said latch element, and means on said latch element adapted to be engaged by said rod for aligning said retainer receiving means with said retainer.

5. In combination with the back strip oi a book'cover, a pair of brackets secured to opposite ends of said back strip, releasable means on said brackets for receiving apertured members, said brackets having web portions with perpendicular' side elements, rods, and said side elements having end portions curled over the adjacent ends of said rods and supporting them parallel to the longitudinal sides of said back strip in spaced relation thereto.

6. In combination with a book cover, a rod rotatably supported upon said cover in substantially parallel spaced relation thereto, bowed parts formed on the ends of said rod and extending substantially radially relative to the rod, and releasable means for engaging the outer ends of said bowed parts to secure them against movement relative to said cover, said releasable means comprising retainer receiving means on the ends of said bowed parts, and latch elements pivoted with respect to said cover and having retaining means adapted to be received in said retainer receiving means.

7. In combination with a book cover, a rod rotatably supported upon said cover in substantially parallel spaced relation thereto, bowed parts formed on the ends of said rod and extending substantially radially relative to the rod, the outer ends of said bowed parts being provided with i retainer receiving means, and pivoted retainer elements adapted tobe received in said retainer receiving means.

8. An article of manufacture for securing to a support a set of apertured index sheets interleaved in a book; said article comprising a pair of parallel spaced rods and an attaching device connected to each end of said pair; each device including a plate having a web portion and a pair of spaced side elements projecting from said web and having end portions curled over the adjacent ends of said rods, a prong adapted to be threaded through corresponding openings in such set and a latch pivoted on said web portion and having a body portion arranged to be covered by a set of sheets threaded on the prong; the prong being pivoted at one end in one of said curled over portions and having a free end engageable with the opposite side element, and

provided with a recess, and the body portion of the latch having a locking nger engageable with the recess in the end of the prong.

9. A structure of the type defined in claim 8 in Which said latch is also provided with means to engage the free end of the prong to locate the recess therein in position to receive the edge of said locking finger.

10. A structure of the type set forth in claim 8, in which said opposite side element is provided with a slot and the latch is provided With means to engage the free end of the prong to locate the recess therein in position to receive the edge of said locking nger and the latch is also provided with a struck up portion having an opening arranged to receive an implement passed through said slot to swing the latch into or out of locking engagement with the prong.

11. In a device of the characted described, a supporting bracket, a bowed rod, means on said bracket for supporting said bowed rod with at least one end free to move relative to the bracket, retainer receiving means on said end of said rod, a latch element movably mounted on said bracket and having a retainer adapted to be moved into or out of said retainer receiving means by movement of said latch element With respect to said bracket, and means adapted to be engaged by said rod for aligning said retainer receiving means with said retainer.

FRANCIS JOHN OSUCH. 

